Breaking down Yankees' roster and starting rotation questions for ALDS

Pete Caldera, NorthJersey.comFri, October 2, 2026 at 10:09 AM UTC

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NEW YORK – Maybe it was the postgame high of dismissing the Red Sox again and moving on to the American League Division Series.

Then again, Yankees starter Cam Schlittler is one confident guy.

“If we keep pitching the way we’re pitching, we’ll be able to dominate all the way to the World Series," Schlittler said during Wednesday night’s wet-and-wild Wild Card Series-clinching celebration.

Schlittler, Max Fried and five relievers yielded just two runs on seven hits in a two-game sweep of a best-of-three, with the Yanks outscoring the Red Sox, 18-2.

Now, it’s on to a best-of-five ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, who present a far greater challenge and own home-field advantage as the AL East champs.

“We have the depth on paper to do it,’’ said Yankees starter Carlos Rodon. “But there’s a lot of work to be done.

“They bring speed to the game… they’re going to be running, bunting − you don’t see that much in the game anymore," Rodon said of Tampa Bay’s balanced attack.

“They’re a solid club. It’s going to be a good series."

Who pitches Game 1? How Yankees could set their ALDS rotation

By the way, who starts Game 1 Saturday for the Yankees at Tropicana Field?

It’s a choice between Carlos Rodon or Gerrit Cole, and the manager didn’t offer any hints.

“Obviously, Gerrit's lined up for that. Carlos is very much in play (and) we have a ton of confidence in both guys," said Boone, adding that it’s still up for organizational debate.

Based on Rodon’s terrific September (1.42 ERA in four starts), there’s a great argument to give him Game 1.

Rodon’s final regular-season start was against the Rays, and it was his best effort of the year − eight shutout innings on Sept. 22 at Yankee Stadium.

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Cole is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three starts this season against the Rays. In 10 career starts at the Trop, the right-hander owns a 3.32 ERA.

Schlittler seems automatic to start Game 2 on normal rest, putting him in line to start a potential winner-take-all Game 5.

Both Games 2 and 5 will be at Tropicana Field, and Schlittler owns a 1.16 ERA in 17 road starts this year.

How Aaron Judge's status affects Yankees' roster decisions

Before we get to Aaron Judge...

Could the Yankees carry just 10 pitchers into the Division Series?

It's possible, with off days after Games 1, 2 and 4 (if necessary), and Boone obviously liked having seven players on the bench.

And by carrying five starting pitchers (including Will Warren) into the Wild Card Series, "It allowed us to manipulate the roster in our favor," said Cole.

This time, the Yanks could add a sixth starter in Ryan Weathers, coming back from a flexor strain.

Even with a 10-man staff, someone from the Wild Card roster would have to be bumped to accommodate Judge, and you wonder if it comes down to the captain or Giancarlo Stanton?

Stanton might still be limited to only pinch-hit duty, though even the threat of his one at-bat is valuable.

It depends on Judge's ability to run the bases and play any right field, less than three weeks since suffering a moderate right calf strain, located near his Achilles tendon.

Judge wouldn't seem to be in play as a right fielder on Tropicana Field's artificial surface.

Essentially, the Yanks might be carrying Judge as pinch-hit option before they get to Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, the three-week mark of his injury.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Breaking down Yankees' roster and starting rotation questions for ALDS

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